[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 20 (Monday, February 1, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5102-5103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-2052]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-R-2009-N262; 81640-1265-0000-S3]


Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, San Francisco County, CA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability: final comprehensive conservation plan 
and finding of no significant impact.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and 
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the Farallon National 
Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). In the CCP, we describe how we will manage 
the Refuge for the next 15 years.

DATES: The CCP and FONSI are available now. The FONSI was signed on 
September 24, 2009. Implementation of the CCP may begin immediately.

ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the final CCP and FONSI/EA 
by any of the following methods. You may request a hard copy or CD-ROM.
    Agency Web Site: Download a copy of the document(s) at http://www.fws.gov/cno/refuges/farallon/.
    E-mail: [email protected].
    Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, San Francisco Bay NWRC, Attn: 
Winnie Chan, 9500 Thornton Avenue, Newark, CA 94560.
    In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call 510-792-0222 to make an 
appointment during regular business hours at San Francisco Bay National 
Wildlife Refuge Complex, 1 Marshlands Road, Fremont, CA 94536.
    Local Library: The final document is also available at the San 
Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102, 
during regular library hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Winnie Chan, Refuge Planner, (510) 
792-0222; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this notice, we finalize the CCP 
process for Farallon NWR. We announce our decision and the availability 
of the FONSI for the final CCP for Farallon in accordance with National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR 1506.6(b)) requirements. We 
completed a thorough analysis of impacts on the human environment, 
which we included in the EA that accompanied the draft CCP.
    The Refuge is located off the coast of San Francisco and is within 
San Francisco County. The 211-acre Refuge consists of four island 
groupings that were first designated as a Refuge in 1909, ``as a 
preserve and breeding ground for native birds'' (Executive Order 1043, 
Feb. 27, 1909). The Refuge supports the largest seabird breeding colony 
in the contiguous United States and provides wintering and nesting 
habitat for migratory seabirds and pinnipeds. In 1974, Congress enacted 
Public Law 93-550, which designated all the islands except for 
Southeast Island as the Farallon Wilderness, totaling 141 acres.
    We made the Draft CCP and Environmental Assessment (Draft CCP/EA) 
available for a 112-day public review and comment period, which we 
announced via several methods, including press releases, updates to 
constituents, and a Federal Register notice (73 FR 78386, December 22, 
2008). The Draft CCP/EA identified and evaluated four alternatives for 
managing the Refuge for the next 15 years. Alternative A was the no-
action alternative, which described current Refuge management 
activities. Alternative B placed greater emphasis on wildlife 
monitoring and research, habitat restoration, eradication of nonnative 
species, and off-refuge outreach and education. Alternative C, which 
was identified as the preferred

[[Page 5103]]

alternative, explored on-refuge visitor services opportunities. 
Alternative D reduced the human activities on the Refuge, including 
management actions to reduce wildlife disturbance.
    We received more than 60 comment letters on the Draft CCP/EA during 
the review period. Many comment letters expressed concerns about 
allowing public access on the Refuge. In response to these comments, we 
decided to select Alternative B as the new preferred alternative. We 
incorporated comments we received into the CCP when possible, and we 
responded to the comments in an appendix to the CCP. In the FONSI, we 
selected Alternative B for implementation and made it the basis for the 
CCP. The FONSI documents our decision and is based on the information 
and analysis contained in the EA.
    Alternative B represents the most environmentally preferred 
alternative because it would expand resource management needs and off-
refuge public opportunities. Habitat restoration and removal of non-
native species would be conducted. Visitor opportunities and 
environmental education would focus on off-refuge activities through 
improved coordination and use of new technology.
    The selected alternative best meets the Refuges' purposes, vision 
and goals; contributes to the Refuge System mission; addresses the 
significant issues and relevant mandates; and is consistent with 
principles of sound fish and wildlife management. Based on the 
associated environmental assessment, this alternative is not expected 
to result in significant environmental impacts and therefore does not 
require an environmental impact statement.

    Dated: January 4, 2010.
Ren Lohoefener,
Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 2010-2052 Filed 1-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P